There are few legendary waters here in the USA that are truly off the beaten path. Very few. Waters that hold a true mystique. Not something an amateur writer can exactly describe in a sissy blog post. But those where the mist comes off the water every morning, that flex their muscle by mid-day and spit in the face any foreigner who comes to try and tame them – those “experienced” fisherman who don’t know any better. These are waters whose waves naturally sound like a chugging train and whisper “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die”.

Dale Hollow Lake is one of these few, if not the only, bodies of water we’re talking about and what more perfect fit to respect and tame it than our modern-day version of an uncontrolled wild man – a drummer. Insightful, respectful, understanding and appreciative, “Dale Hollow Dave” Clark (www.trolldhl.com) was meant to be here. He was meant to take us out to show what’s he’s discovered – clear waters, lost underwater towns and giant smallmouth bass.

Dale Hollow Lake is one of these few, if not the only, bodies of water we’re talking about and what more perfect fit to respect and tame it than our modern-day version of an uncontrolled wild man – a drummer. Insightful, respectful, understanding and appreciative, ” Dale Hollow Dave” Clark (www.trolldhl.com) was meant to be here. He was meant to take us out to show what’s he’s discovered – clear waters, lost underwater towns and giant smallmouth bass.

Here the water is clear and the alewives, that’s right great lakes fishermen you heard me, the alewives run in schools I haven’t seen since the 80’s. The smallmouth run amok as no other predator is present. Here they are king. They run this lake and create the dark, smoky, deep, bassline that all other species here play over. They create the pulse of this fishery and when they’re on the end of your line you’ll know you’ll have “fought tougher men, but you won’t remember when”.

As we post more we’ll talk about the Canadian and Chequamegon smallmouth. Fish that by popularity have set the rules by which most, and understandably so, have set their standards. To those who toast these fish we’ll be happy to pour the wine, but to those who want to actually enter the house of Dionysus, Dale Hollow Lake is the symbolic gait. We’ve been there in March and October, we’ve caught them and they’re that big. In the words of another unlikely legend you’d expect to see quoted here, “nuff’ said”.

As we post more we’ll talk about the Canadian and Chequamegon smallmouth. Fish that by popularity have set the rules by which most, and understandably so, have set their standards. To those who toast these fish we’ll be happy to pour the wine, but to those who want to actually enter the house of Dionysus, Dale Hollow Lake is the symbolic gate. We’ve been there in March and October, we’ve caught them and they’re that big. In the words of another unlikely legend you’d expect to see quoted here, “nuff’ said”.